The-'major focus of the third quarter was initiation of the
implementation of the Technical Assistance program. This required
country visits to give further structure to the requests being
received by the FSSP. Core responded to needs in Africa where Jim
Jones visited Morocco and served on a design team to assist with the
development of a bilateral contract for Zaire. FSSP representatives
participated on a project design team to develop FSR/D within CARDI.

Program development progressed. With the increasing emphasis on
technical assistance, the importance of a strong briefing and
debriefing program became evident. FSSP policy guidelines were
further refined by the Advisory Council and the Director, including
the establishment of a permanent Advisory Council and a permanent
Technical Committee. The second newsletter was produced.

A need to further structure the interest of the missions and the
capabilities of the FSSP surfaced. Early activity with Support
Entities showed that, although interest was quite high, the support
capability was not very strong at the institutions. Thus, an emphasis
was given to the development of an orientation through workshops. The
first orientation workshop was offered at the University of Florida
and was attended by individuals who would participate as leaders of
similar workshops at other institutions. To supplement the course
material, it was decided to develop a series of slide/tape modules.

During this quarter staffing of the project was completed. Steve
Kearl, editorial assistant, began work in April. Susan Poats was
hired in June to work with networking and specifically with programs
in Africa. Dan Galt, hired to work with technical assistance and a
regionally with Asia, joined the FSSP in September. J.K. McDermott,
originally hired by the FSSP as a consultant, will fill a position in
the core as a liason to USAID/W.

I. SETTING

The third quarter of FSSP implementation required considerable
thought on implementation of the technical assistance program. The
setting was one of undefined demands requiring some type of country
visits to give further structure to the requests so that an
appropriate implementation plan could be developed. In the process of
understanding the early demands, some unstructured efforts at -AID
Mission visits proved educational for the FSSP. These early
Exploratory efforts were necessary to determine where the FSSP program
could be of assistance. These visits were primarily focused on
Africa.

Because the SE structure was still in formation, it was not
possible to draw heavily on SE assistance in this activity, so the
meager Core Staff of the FSSP was severely taxed at this early time.
Also, it was and remains a feeling of the Core that early program
development activities should not be assigned to SEs until the Core
understands some of the difficulties, opportunities and implementation
needs of the programs. It became evident that early demands expressed
by AID, in most cases, suggested that often considerable time will be
necessary for interpreting and diagnosing specific needs. Patience
and forebearance by all parties helped move the program toward
implementation of technical assistance during this quarter.

Early activity with SEs and the MOAs themselves showed that the
support capability was not very strong at many entities interested in
the program. Enthusiasm was high and a number of people wanted to
participate, but experience in farming systems research was limited.
This remains a cause for concern at the lead institution, where FS
experience is primarily in Latin America with some experience in East
Africa.

II. GENERAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

With the evident inexperience at SEs, emphasis was given to
development of an orientation program through workshops at U.S.
universities. This effort was suggested by UF/International Programs
and helped by Drs. Peter Hildebrand and Robert Waugh. The intent was
to develop an orientation workshop of one week duration that could be
presented at the University of Florida and moved to other institutions
around the country. Material for this workshop was initially taken
from the courses taught by Drs. Waugh and Hildebrand at the University
of Florida, College of Agriculture. Dr. Hildebrand had established a
course in farming systems research and extension methodology from
which materials and experience were drawn for the overall
methodological presentations. Dr. Waugh's course focused upon
research and extension administration, with emphasis on a farming
systems approach.

To supplement the course material, it was decided to develop a
2

series of slide/tape modules. These modules would serve as teaching
tools for stimulating thought and discussion about the farming systems
approach to research and extension. (Leaders of orientation workshops
can dismantle the modules as they see fit to suit their specific needs
and interests).

The first orientation workshop was offered at the University of
Florida in June, 1983 and was attended primarily by individuals who
would participate as leaders of similar workshops at other
institutions. The event was well attended. Participants were asked
to evaluate the materials and the workshop approach so that these
could be accordingly modified for future presentations.

The general purpose of the domestic.workshops is to provide a
forum for orientation and consensus. For many participants it is a
first exposure to farming systems and FSSP materials. Feedback from
the orientation can be used to help strengthen the overall program and
to provide a basis for identification of people to serve on technical
assistance and training teams. This activity is initiated at a low
cost to FSSP because trainers for future workshops attend the early
sessions and FSSP does not play a major role in organization and
leadership in the workshop itself. Travel to the workshops is
generally not supported by FSSP but by state funds or Title XII
Strengthening Grants.

The interchange between farming systems practitioners and
enthusiasts from the several entities in attendance at a workshop is
the basis for establishing the FSSP support network that will evolve
relative to not only FSSP activities but to AID programs such as
bilateral contracts as well. The approach to each workshop provides
an opportunity for its leaders to adapt materials to the participant
group and to their training and farming systems experiences.
Materials developed by the FSSP neither provide for the total program
nor suggest a complete set of alternative approaches to FSR/E. Such
is beyond the scope of a one-week course. FSSP materials contribute
significantly to a forum where information is gathered and made
.available through various media for orientation purposes. It is
expected that this approach might be adapted to general orientations
for AID Missions as a means to establish contact and open dialogue
relative to their needs in the area of farming systems. AID staff who
happen to be in the U.S. are invited to the orientation workshops, as
also are, nationals studying in the U.S. AID Washington staff are
encouraged to attend as well.

During this quarter staffing of the project was completed though
not all of the staff were present for during the quarter itself.
Steve Kearl began work in April and produced the second newsletter.
Susan Poats began work in June, following completion of her assignment
with CIP. Susan will be in charge of networking and programs in
Africa. Dan Gait, hired to work, generally, with Asia and with the
supply of technical assistance will begin work in September. Ken
McDermott began working with the FSSP as a consultant during the
quarter and would later be hired for a permanent position in the Core
as a liaison to AID/Washington. Dr. McDermott would primarily assist
3

with the demand side of technical assistance. Dr. McDermott will live
in Washington and establish an FSSP office.

Technical assistance began in earnest through Core responses to
needs in Africa. Jim Jones visited Morocco and also served on a
design team to assist with development of a bilateral contract for
Zaire which included a farming systems component. From this
experience it became evident that a strong briefing and debriefing
program would "be essential to support the technical assistance
activities associated with program design, implementation and-
evaluation.

Policy guidelines were further refined by the Advisory Council and
the Director, including the establishment of a permanent Advisory
Council and a permanent Technical Committee. Various recommendations
were made and forwarded to the support entities for their
consideration with final approval to come at the Annual Meeting to be
held at Kansas State University following the Symposium in November.
(Recommendations for this activity (the KSU Symposium) and the various
policy guidelines are embodied in a series of policy memos directed to
SE representatives).

III. CONCLUSION

While it is clear at this point that the FSSP program is moving
into place more slowly than was anticipated, several reasons are
apparent for this. First, the general demand for FSSP support at the
Mission level remains soft primarily due to a need to further
structure the interest of Missions and the capabilities of the FSSP.
This particular condition is probably a blessing in disguise because
time is needed to strengthen the supply capability of the SEs and the
FSSP program generally. Delays associated with recruiting and hiring
the Core Staff further suggests that it is fortuitous not to be
pressed extremely hard for delivery early in the program.

It is now possible to appreciate the awesome task of an
undertaking to establish a project completely from naught without
guidelines relative to inter-institutional relations and structures.
Nevertheless, the quality of the instrument being developed may well
be superior because time has been taken to let it emerge on the basis
of capabilities, interests and needs.

7. Worked on PP, in particular on "social soundness", "effects on
U.S. exports", and "technical economic analysis."

8. Met with Waugh and Engle to brief Engle on the situation prior
to his departure to Barbados.

Needs/Problems:
1. The evaluation of Phase I placed too much emphasis on the
difference between original objectives and actual accomplishments
and not enough credit was given to the accomplishments in view of
conditions. There should have been more frequent evaluations and
revisions throughout the Phase I period.

2. FSR/D (research) project and the CAEP (extension) project
should have been tied together and developed as joint projects.

Objectives: 1. To inform a design team (PP) of what the FSSP could
offer an AID/Morocco project. The project under consideration is
the Dryland Agricultural Applied Research Project. Its objective
is to provide appropriate technology for farmers in this dryland
area and to extend it. Emphasis is on extension. Proposes to use
Farming Systems approach.

Potential Trainers: Centre de Travail (CT)- this institute could
possibly be used for any future farming systems training in
Morocco.
Publication Potential:

FSSP INFORMATION

Demands on FSSP: Alice Morton requested to write some training
courses into the project design both practitioner and manager.
FSSP commitment-promised responses: Suggested that a training
module on the design of on-farm trials and analysis
of data from them would be in order (in french). FSSP would be
able to deliver these courses some time next year probably in the
first quarter of 1984.
Materials collected:
Contributions to Inventory:

Objectives: To establish contact with the CIMMYT farming systems
research program in East Africa.

2. Meet the research directors from the various participating
countries in the CIMMYT FSR effort.

3. To understand the programs, policies, and problems
confronting the research directors concerning not only
administration and management of on farm research but also
their overall program.

Accomplishments: The conference was quite informative and well
managed.

The specific case presentations made by the groups in
attendance were excellent.

Highlighted were the programs in Zambia, Malawi, Botswana,
with briefer presentations by Burundi, Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Needs/Problems: It is clear that considerable collaboration
between CIMMYT and the FSSP would be appropriate and desired
on the part of CIMMYT, including Don Winklemann, Michael
Collinson, Allan Lowe, and Ananda.

A problem to deal with is the conception that Africa should
be divided in half with FSSP providing support to one region
and CIMMYT providing support in another.

Potential Trainers:
Publication Potential: It was noted that collaboration should
occur between the FSSP Newsletter and the CIMMYT East Africa
Newsletter as appropriate.

FSSP INFORMATION

Demands on FSSP: No specific demands were made at this meeting.
FSSP commitment-promised responses: Collaboration with the
Newsletter, development of training materials, and provision
for professional support as appropriate to assist CIMMYT if
called upon.
Materials collected:
Contributions to Inventory:

Additional Information: While at this conference the
opportunity was taken to meet with several other groups
including David Lundberg, Agricultural development Officer,
USAID/Kenya. Lundberg indicates that the Kenya Mission will
be moving more toward agricultural research support in the
near future. Two agricultural research projects are under
way and more will probably be added. There are serious
problems with the agricultural research situation in Kenya,
primarily because of a system that is fractured and
significant inter-institutional battles are occurring.

D. Armstrong, Program Officer, Redso East Armstrong is a
crops program advisor with AID/Kenya and to become the
Program Officer in Redso. We discussed the role of FSSP in
working with CIMMYT. Armstrong is particularly complimentary
of the work by Hildebrand and Waugh and indicates possible
need for their assistance sometime in the future.

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Gary Lewis, Agrieultural Specialist AID/Kenya particularly
focusing on extension research interface in Kenya. Lewis
works primarily with a new contract that will have 18 million
for manpower training and development. Particular emphasis
will be on training in systems and integrative research and
extension.

Diane Rocherloe, Post-doctoral with ICRAF Diane gave me a
brief overview of ICRAF's work and promised to prepare a
newsletter article relative to Agroforestry.